The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it was “not too surprised” that China has struck up its usual tune in objecting to Taiwan’s bid for UN participation.
However, it said it was confident that Beijing and Taipei could reach a consensus on resolving the issue of Taiwan’s international space through continuing dialogue.
In a statement released last night, the ministry did not protest China’s interference as it has done in the past, but said China and Taiwan’s co-participation in international activities will help “establish cross-strait mutual trust, reduce misunderstanding and prevent hostility.”
The statement also said MOFA is confident a solution can be found as long as both sides can “shelve differences and build on common interests to create a win-win situation” — almost verbatim to the content of a letter written by Chinese Ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya (王光亞) to the secretariat office last Monday.
Wang said that the Chinese government had always looked after the welfare of the Taiwanese people and that “Taiwan region has unfettered access” to the WHO after Beijing signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the health body in 2005.
However, instead of pointing out China’s false claim that Taiwanese experts have enjoyed “unfettered” access, the MOFA statement only said Beijing was “incorrect” in claiming that the MOU has provided “convenience” to Taiwanese experts and that Taiwan’s participation level in WHO events still fell short of Taiwan’s expectations.
On Aug. 15, 17 of Taiwan’s allies officially pitched a draft resolution to the UN secretariat office calling on the General Assembly to “examine the fundamental rights of the 23 million people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to participate meaningfully in the activities of the UN specialized agencies.”
Three days later, Wang, in a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said Taiwan’s bid to participate in UN specialized agencies under the “principle of universality” was “unfounded” because Taiwan is not a sovereign state.
Wang said any proposal for Taiwan’s UN participation violated China’s sovereignty.
Calling the issue of Taiwan’s international space an “internal affair of the Chinese people,” Wang said the issue “should be resolved through consultation” but stressed the talks must be held under the “one-China principle.”
Taiwan was refered to as “the Taiwan region” in Wang’s letter.
When asked if Taiwan would agree to China’s terms, MOFA Spokesman Henry Chen (陳銘政) said, “we strive to set aside differences.”
“So far, we have received positive feedback from the international community such as the US, Japan and the EU,” he said.
The Presidential Office yesterday declined to comment.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY KO SHU-LING
Taiwan moved clear of Mexico to be the only country at No. 2 in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Men’s Baseball World Rankings. Meanwhile, draft bills to set up a ministry of sports were approved at a joint session at the legislature in Taipei yesterday. After previously being tied with Mexico for second on 4,118 points, Taiwan moved clear on 5,498 points after they defeated Japan in the final of the WBSC Premier12 tournament on Sunday. Mexico (4,729) dropped to fourth, behind Venezuela (4,846), who finished fourth at the tournament. Taiwan narrowed the gap to first-placed Japan to 1,368 points from 1,638, WBSC
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol yesterday declared emergency martial law, accusing the opposition of being “anti-state forces intent on overthrowing the regime” amid parliamentary wrangling over a budget bill. “To safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements plundering people’s freedom and happiness, I hereby declare emergency martial law,” Yoon said in a live televised address to the nation. “With no regard for the livelihoods of the people, the opposition party has paralysed governance solely for the sake of impeachments, special investigations, and shielding their leader from justice,” he
GLOBAL SUPPORT: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the motion highlighted the improper exclusion of Taiwan from international discussion and cooperative mechanisms Taiwan yesterday thanked the British parliament for passing a motion stating that UN Resolution 2758 does not involve Taiwan, making it the latest body to reject China’s interpretation of the resolution. The House of Commons on Thursday debated the international status of Taiwan and unanimously passed a pro-Taiwan motion stating that the House “notes that UN Resolution 2758 does not address the political status of Taiwan or establish PRC [People’s Republic of China] sovereignty over Taiwan and is silent both on the status of Taiwan in the UN and on Taiwanese participation in UN agencies.” British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Parliamentary
HIGH ALERT: The armed forces are watching for a potential military drill by China in response to the president’s trip, with the air force yesterday conducting an exercise President William Lai (賴清德) is to make stopovers in Hawaii and the US territory of Guam during his seven-day trip to the South Pacific, his first official visit since taking office in May, the Presidential Office said yesterday. Lai, accompanied by a delegation, is scheduled to depart for the South Pacific on a chartered flight at 4:30pm tomorrow, stopping first in Hawaii for a two-night layover before traveling to the Marshall Islands, an office official said. After wrapping up his visits to the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, the president is to transit through Guam, spending a night there before flying to Palau,
RSS